Homend to be a hub for local wildlife enthusiasts

The initiative by the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust will launch on this Friday (May 5), with a Natural History Book Fair that will also take place on the Saturday, May 6.

But organisers know there is a long way to go if the shop is able to thrive and function as intended, and they are looking for local support.

A fund-raising target is £5000, and at present only £215 is in the pot.

Despite the book fair this weekend, the shop, at 4 The Homend, is still to open formally and there are still a number of hurdles to overcome.

Frances Weeks, communications officer for the trust said: "The shop has not yet formally opened as we are currently crowd funding to buy all the necessary fixtures and fittings – any pledges most welcome.

"But we hope it will become a hub for wildlife enthusiasts in the area. Once we are up and running, the shop will be raising money for conservation work across the county: looking after our 55 nature reserves; protecting threatened wildlife and wildlife habitats and running events and activities to inspire people of all ages to care for their local landscapes and wildlife. This is a charity shop with a twist."

She added: "As well as start-up funds, we are also looking for volunteers to help in the shop and, of course, donations."

The hope is that the book fair will help to set the ball rolling, and organisers are promising "hundreds of titles ranging from the common to collectable, valuable, academic and obscure; all of the natural history genre".

The doors for the fair will be open from 10am to 4pm, this Friday and Saturday.

Anyone wishing to help the new initiative, and seeking more information, should go the website www.herefordshirewt.org/charityshop or people can get in touch directly with retail manager Sam Brett: s.brett@herefordshirewt.co.uk / 07341 736 191

The link to the fund-raising drive is at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/herefordshirewildlifetrustshop.